Charge dropped against McKinney

McKinney

January 6, 1998
Web posted at: 1:36 p.m. EST (1836 GMT)

FORT BELVOIR, Virginia (CNN) -- Defense attorneys for former Sergeant Major of the Army Gene C. McKinney Tuesday succeeded in getting dropped one of the 20 charges against him involving sexual harassment and sexual assault.

The government did not object to the dismissal of the charge, in which McKinney was accused of grabbing a female sergeant forcibly by the shoulders and pulling her toward him. The defense had said the charge was virtually the same as another charge and was therefore "multiplicitous."

Lawyers for McKinney, who was the Army's senior enlisted man, also challenged the makeup of the jury panel, saying it gives the prosecution an unfair advantage.

The defense asserts the pool of potential panel members has to many woman and too many officers of senior rank. McKinney has requested a jury panel made up of at least one-third personnel.

Related stories:

• McKinney loses bid to have charges dismissed - December 13, 1997
• Fight brews over witness in McKinney case - December 10, 1997
• McKinney asserts innocence ahead of court-martial - Oct. 16, 1997
• McKinney worried about getting a fair trial - Oct. 15, 1997

Related sites:

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• U.S. Army
• Army Policy on EO and Sexual Harrassment
• Dept. of Defense - Sexual Harassment

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